Method for controlling a cleaner and cleaner for performing the method

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for controlling the operating mode of a cleaner, in particular, a high-pressure cleaner, wherein a pump delivers cleaning fluid via a pressure line to a closable spray nozzle, a signal transducer which provides control signals as a function of the pressure in the pressure line being coupled with the pressure line. To further develop the method so that the cleaner can be reliably controlled in a constructionally simple manner from the spray nozzle, it is proposed, in accordance with the invention, that a first control signal be provided by the signal transducer by closing the spray nozzle, and a second control signal be provided by the signal transducer by subsequently opening the spray nozzle again, and that the operating mode of the cleaner be controlled as a function of the duration of the time interval between the two control signals. A cleaner, in particular, a high-pressure cleaner, for performing the method is also proposed.

1 . Method for controlling the operating mode of a cleaner, in particular, a high-pressure cleaner, wherein a pump delivers cleaning fluid via a pressure line to a closable spray nozzle, a signal transducer which provides control signals as a function of the pressure in the pressure line being coupled with the pressure line, wherein a first control signal is provided by the signal transducer by closing the spray nozzle, and a second control signal is provided by the signal transducer by subsequently opening the spray nozzle again, wherein the operating mode of the cleaner is controlled as a function of the duration of the time interval between the two control signals, and wherein the operating mode, in particular, the operating pressure, of the cleaner is changed if the time interval between the first control signal and the second control signal is shorter than a first prescribed period of time. 
   
   
       2 . Method in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the pump is driven by an electric motor, which is switched off by the first control signal of the signal transducer and is switched on by the second control signal of the signal transducer. 
   
   
       3 . Method in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the operating mode, in particular, the operating pressure, of the cleaner is changed in a prescribed sequence by repeatedly closing the spray nozzle for a respective time interval that is shorter than the first prescribed period of time. 
   
   
       4 . Method in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the cleaner is selectively operated at maximum operating pressure or at an operating pressure of the cleaning fluid that is reduced by 10% to 60% in relation to the maximum operating pressure. 
   
   
       5 . Method in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein after the spray nozzle has been closed for a time interval that is longer than the first prescribed period of time, the cleaner is automatically operated again in that operating mode, in particular, at that operating pressure, which prevailed when closing the spray nozzle, upon opening the spray nozzle again. 
   
   
       6 . Method in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the cleaner, after an interruption of its supply voltage, is automatically operated in a prescribed operating mode, in particular, at a prescribed operating pressure. 
   
   
       7 . Method in accordance with  claim 6 , wherein the cleaner, after an interruption of its supply voltage, is operated at maximum operating pressure. 
   
   
       8 . Method in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein after the spray nozzle has been closed for a time interval that is longer than a second prescribed period of time, the cleaner is automatically operated in a prescribed operating mode, in particular, at a prescribed operating pressure. 
   
   
       9 . Method in accordance with  claim 8 , wherein after the spray nozzle has been closed for a time interval that is longer than the second prescribed period of time, the cleaner is operated at maximum operating pressure. 
   
   
       10 . Cleaner, in particular, high-pressure cleaner, for performing the method in accordance with  claim 1 , having a pump for delivering cleaning fluid via a pressure line to a closable spray nozzle, wherein a signal transducer is coupled with the pressure line for providing control signals as a function of the pressure in the pressure line, wherein a first control signal is emittable by the signal transducer by closing the spray nozzle, and a second control signal is emittable by the signal transducer by subsequently opening the spray nozzle again, wherein the operating mode of the cleaner is controllable as a function of the duration of the time interval between the first control signal and the second control signal, and wherein the operating mode, in particular, the operating pressure, of the cleaner is changeable by closing the spray nozzle for a time interval that is shorter than a first prescribed period of time. 
   
   
       11 . Cleaner in accordance with  claim 10 , wherein the pump is drivable by an electric motor, which is adapted to be switched off by the first control signal of the signal transducer and to be switched on by the second control signal of the signal transducer. 
   
   
       12 . Cleaner in accordance with  claim 10 , wherein the operating mode, in particular, the operating pressure, of the cleaner is changeable in a prescribed sequence by repeatedly closing the spray nozzle for a respective time interval that is shorter than the first prescribed period of time. 
   
   
       13 . Cleaner in accordance with  claim 10 , wherein the cleaner is selectively operable at maximum operating pressure or at an operating pressure of the cleaning fluid that is reduced by 10% to 60% in relation to the maximum operating pressure. 
   
   
       14 . Cleaner in accordance with  claim 13 , wherein the value of at least one reduced operating pressure is prescribable by the user. 
   
   
       15 . Cleaner in accordance with  claim 10 , wherein after the spray nozzle has been closed for a time interval that is longer than the first prescribed period of time, the cleaner automatically assumes its operating mode that prevailed when closing the spray nozzle, in particular, the operating pressure that prevailed when closing the spray nozzle, upon opening the spray nozzle again. 
   
   
       16 . Cleaner in accordance with  claim 10 , wherein after an interruption of its supply voltage, the cleaner automatically assumes a prescribed operating mode, in particular, a prescribed operating pressure. 
   
   
       17 . Cleaner in accordance with  claim 16 , wherein after an interruption of its supply voltage, the cleaner automatically assumes its maximum operating pressure. 
   
   
       18 . Cleaner in accordance with  claim 10 , wherein the cleaner automatically assumes a prescribed operating mode, in particular, a prescribed operating pressure, after the spray nozzle has been closed for a time interval that is longer than a second prescribed period of time. 
   
   
       19 . Cleaner in accordance with  claim 10 , wherein there is placed in the pressure line a signal transducer which, upon closing the spray nozzle, emits a first control signal, and, upon opening the spray nozzle again, emits a second control signal, and which is in operative connection with an electronic control device, which gives a setting signal to a setting element as a function of the duration of the time interval between a first control signal and a second control signal of the signal transducer, the operating mode of the cleaner being controllable by the setting element. 
   
   
       20 . Cleaner in accordance with  claim 19 , wherein the signal transducer is connected to an interrupter switch for interruption of the motor current of the electric motor, and in that the cleaner comprises a sensor for detection of an interruption of the motor current, the sensor being coupled with the electronic control device, which gives a setting signal to the setting element as a function of the duration of a current interruption detected by the sensor. 
   
   
       21 . Cleaner in accordance with  claim 19 , wherein the setting element is configured as phase angle control device, which is placed in a power supply line of the electric motor. 
   
   
       22 . Cleaner in accordance with  claim 20 , wherein after an interruption of the motor current whose duration falls short of a first prescribed period of time, a setting signal is emittable by the electronic control device, which corresponds to a changed operating mode, in particular, a changed operating pressure, compared to the operating mode prevailing prior to the interruption of the current. 
   
   
       23 . Cleaner in accordance with  claim 22 , wherein the first prescribed period of time is 0.5 seconds to 2 seconds. 
   
   
       24 . Cleaner in accordance with  claim 22 , wherein in the event of repeated interruptions of the motor current whose duration respectively falls short of the first prescribed period of time, a setting signal corresponding to a certain operating mode, in particular, a certain operating pressure, is respectively emittable by the electronic control device, the sequence of the operating modes, in particular, of the operating pressures, being prescribed. 
   
   
       25 . Cleaner in accordance with  claim 20 , wherein after a motor current interruption whose duration exceeds the first prescribed period of time, a setting signal corresponding to the operating mode prevailing prior to the motor current interruption, in particular, to the operating pressure prevailing prior to the motor current interruption, is emittable by the electronic control device. 
   
   
       26 . Cleaner in accordance with  claim 19 , wherein the electronic control device comprises a storage unit for storing the currently prevailing operating mode, in particular, the currently prevailing operating pressure. 
   
   
       27 . Cleaner in accordance with  claim 20 , wherein after a motor current interruption whose duration exceeds a second prescribed period of time, a setting signal corresponding to a prescribed operating mode, in particular, a prescribed operating pressure, is emittable by the electronic control device. 
   
   
       28 . Cleaner in accordance with  claim 19 , wherein an interruption of the supply voltage of the cleaner is detectable by the electronic control device and, after an interruption of the supply voltage, a setting signal corresponding to a prescribed operating mode, in particular, a prescribed operating pressure, is emittable by the electronic control device. 
   
   
       29 . Cleaner in accordance with  claim 27 , wherein the prescribed operating pressure is the maximum operating pressure of the cleaner.